Review: Listen to Me

The last Rizzoli & Isles book came out in 2017. In case you're not keeping score that was five years ago. An eternity for a series (well, unless you're George RR Martin - in which case it would be the equivalent of a lunch break). In that time Tess Gerritsen has released a couple stand-alone novels, so I chalked this up to burn-out or possibly the end to the series. It's been so long since the last book I can't remember the plot other than Dr. Maura Isles made a disastrous romantic decision (old habits being hard to break) that pissed me right the hell off.  Seriously, still salty.  Anyway, when Listen to Me was announced I was really excited, scored an ARC for the July 2022 release and....there it languished on my Kindle until this month.  Because I am the worst. But also because Jane's mother Angela plays a healthy role in this story and for fans of the book series (the TV show is an entirely different kettle of fish IMHO) y'all know a little Angela goes a long way.  But in for a penny, in for a pound.

Murder never makes sense, but Boston homicide detective, Jane Rizzoli, has been called to a crime scene that is more senseless than usual. Sofia Suarez is found bludgeoned to death in her home. A widow, a nurse, well-liked by coworkers and neighbors alike. No enemies. No bad habits. The woman was so clean she squeaked when she walked. There have been some burglaries in the area, but nothing appears out of sorts in the house. Not ransacked, nothing obvious taken. It looks entirely random but Jane's not buying it. Someone wanted this woman dead, the question is who and why.

Meanwhile, Jane's mother, Angela, has finally settled into domestic (unwedded) bliss with Jane's former partner Vince - although he's currently out of town taking care of his sister who just had surgery. Angela is the kind of person who has lived in her home for years, knows the neighborhood and her neighbors - that's why she's concerned.  A new couple has moved in across the street and they're odd. They don't socialize. They keep to themselves.  They're installing bars on their windows. It's just not normal.  Then shortly after the new residents move in, a troubled teenage girl from the next street over goes missing.  Angela just KNOWS there's something wrong, but neither the local cops or her own daughter are taking her seriously.

I read this while traveling and it was a perfect cross-country airplane read. It kept me engaged, interested, and (most importantly with suspense novels) guessing.  I thought I would find the Angela storyline tiresome, but I really ended up enjoying it! Angela is "of a certain age" - which is code for nobody listens to her anymore. Vince is out of town. Jane is busy and dismissive in a way that daughters often are with exhausting mothers 😂. As the reader you waffle between Angela Being Angela and Yes, Something Is Rotten.  Gerritsen also keeps it twisting and turning between the standoffish new neighbors and the missing teenage girl who has a history of running away.

The mystery of the dead nurse also kept me guessing. What I liked about this story is that while I had a pretty good idea why she was killed (and turns out, I was right) I never was able to figure out how all the puzzle pieces fit together.  There's connections to be made and I never could see how it all fit - until Gerritsen starts tying it all together with the denouement. 

Maura's love life still pisses me off (it will never NOT so I guess I need to get used to it...) and while she is featured in this book she's not as integral a part of the main plot as Jane and Angela.  Which is fine. She's there to assist, like any good medical examiner and plays her part to perfection.

I really enjoyed this entry a lot. It's a good, solid read and should please fans of the series.  Now here's hoping Gerritsen doesn't wait another 5 years.

Final Grade = B+